When Cincinnati voters approved the school‑district property‑tax levy last week, families like the Davis household felt a wave of relief. Domonique Davis, a mother of three who has a son with an individualized education plan, explained how the levy safeguards essential services such as speech therapy that her third‑grader, Matthew, relies on.
Levy averts painful cuts
CPS Treasurer Michael Gustin warned that without the levy the district would have faced “painful cuts, school consolidations, reduced programming for kids.” He said the additional revenue will protect programs for students with learning differences and keep the district from resorting to drastic budget reductions.
Impact on Matthew’s speech therapy
Matthew receives speech‑pathology services through the district. Davis described how, before the levy, budget shortfalls forced the district to shift the speech‑pathologist between two schools, leaving her son missing roughly 70 hours of instruction outlined in his IEP.
“He wasn’t able to introduce himself before,” Davis recalled, noting a recent breakthrough at the Clifton Branch Library where Matthew greeted the librarian by name. “That was the silver lining for me, because it showed what the services can do when they’re protected.”
Levy’s limits and future outlook
While the levy will not restore positions already eliminated, it does create a financial buffer that prevents further layoffs. The Cincinnati Federation of Teachers warned that, without the levy, math and reading specialists could have been cut.
District officials plan to begin collecting the levy revenue in the new year, directing the funds toward maintaining existing programs and avoiding additional reductions. Davis expressed confidence that the levy’s passage will keep her son’s education on track, even as the district works to make up lost instructional hours.
Community response
Local parents and community members voiced strong support for the levy, emphasizing the importance of keeping special‑education resources intact. Many highlighted personal stories similar to Davis’s, underscoring how the levy directly affects families with children who need individualized support.
“I couldn’t imagine what would happen if the levy failed,” Davis said. “The cuts would have taken away services that help my son grow and be part of the general‑education setting.”
What’s next for CPS
With the levy secured, CPS administrators will focus on stabilizing staffing levels and ensuring that students with IEPs receive the full complement of services promised under state law. The district also plans to monitor the effectiveness of the newly funded programs and report progress to the community throughout the coming school year.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
